Rondo, Bradley to start for Celtics

Tue, 01/01/2013 - 7:12pm — Mike Petraglia

Doc Rivers announced before Wednesday's game that Rajon Rondo had been cleared to play and would start with Avery Bradley in the Celtics backcourt as the team looks for a defensive spark to turn around its three-game losing streak.

Rondo suffered a bruised right hip against the Clippers on Thursday and missed Saturday's game against the Warriors before returning on Sunday in the loss to the Kings. Rondo sat out Tuesday's practice before working out two hours before Wednesday's game against the Grizzlies and getting cleared to play.

Meanwhile, Bradley is making his season debut after surgery on both shoulders in the offseason. Rivers said before the game there would be no minutes limitations on Bradley in his first appearance of the season.